Apparatus for supplying web-material



Nov. 12, 1935. c. D. KNOWLTON 2,020,419

I APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WEB MATERIAL Original Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 12, 1935. c. D. KNOWLTON APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WEBMATERIAL Original Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 which webs ofmaterial advance continuously to Patented Nov. 12, 1935 f 1,020,419mana'rns FOR SUPPLYING wEB-- MATE I Cutler n. Knowltbn, Beverly, Mam,assignor to PATENT OFFICE RIAL Hoague-Spmgue Corporation, Lynn,Mass., 1. corporation of Massachusetts Original application September 8,1930, Serial No.

480,518. Divided and this application April 21,

,- 1932, Serial No- 606,604 4 1 11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying web-material, as tothe operatingmechanism of a blank-making apparatus. It finds an-'appropriate'fleld.in the machine disclosed in the application filed inmy name in the United States Patent Oflice on September 8, 1930, withthe Serial No. 480,518, of whichthe present case is a division. OnJanuary 22, 1935, the parent case became Patent No. 1,988,451.

The above-mentioned machine is designed for the making of box-blanks,and is of the type in receive various forming operations, emerging fromthe machines as discrete blanks. Certain of the webs, as'that of theshell-material, are relatively thick and heavy, and the coils from whichthis web is supplied to the machine must I be fijequently renewed. Onaccount of the uninterrupted travel, this renewal must be effectedrapidly; and, as the pasteboard or other shellmaterial is more or lessbrittle, it cannot with safety be subjected to abrupt bending. An object\of this invention is to provide for the replacement of the exhaustedcoils withoutinterruption in the blank-producing action, and withoutinjuring the blank-material. 15

1 For the attainment of t object, as a feature of my invention, Icombine with a web-support and mechanism for operating'upon the web,means for feeding the web from the support to the operating mechanism,and a novel intermediate receiver, preferably in the form of -a cage orcompartment, through which the web passes, this compartment beingarranged to contain superposed loops of-said web. An'a'ccumulation ofthe web in this receiving compartment may be drawn upon while asplice'is made to the advancing portion of a coil approaching exhaustionor during similar interruptions. The form which this accumulated surplusassumes is such that no substantial breaking strains are imposed uponit, and its delivery and withdrawal are easy. By introducing the webthrough an opening in the upper portion of the compartment, it may becaused to fall in the desired loops, without special guiding means, andby withdrawing it through an opening in the lower portion, its advancemay be eifected without material resistance or disturbance of theaccumulated material. To permit the supply in the compartment'to bemaintained to the desired amount, means, as a yieldable roll separablefrom a companion roll to stop the advance, is shown for feeding the webinto said compartment, and with this feeding means is associated meansfor varying the rate at which it operates. To facilitate the division oftheweb in preparation for its splicing, a knife orother cutting deviceis arranged to act on it, as at the feeding mechanism, before it entersthe receiving compartment. To support both a nearly unwound coiloftheweb anda fresh coiltiiereof, so the splicing .oi' the latter to theadvancing web may conveniently be accomplished, spaced horizontalsupporting bars are preferably furnished, 10 these bars having two pairsof alined coilrspindleretaining means, so located that the web-receivingopening in the compartment is between them. Thus the webfrom either ofthe two coils may enter the compartment, without interference, before orafterthe splicing operation.

In considering this invention, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings representing one ofits many possible embodiments.In these'drawings, 1 1 1 Fig. 1 shows in side elevation my improvedwebsupplying apparatus;

Fig. 2 is'a similar fragmentary view with coils I of material inpositions different from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the entrance end ofthe web-accumulatingcage; x

Fig. 4 illustrates iii-perspectivethe changespeed gearing fortheweb-feeding means associated with the cage; and" s a Fig. 5 is avertical section on the line V-V' of E3 V V It .will 'be assumed thatthere is to be supplied, for the production of box blanks or'the like,shellmaterial in the form of an elongated strip or web b from a coil-B,this being delivered to one or more operating mechanisms, one of whichis indicated at G in'Fig. 1 of the drawings. These mechanisms includepairs of rotatable operating instrumentalities y, g, which actto feedthe web forward. For the'coil B is provided'a mounting, 40 whichfacilitates the putting in place. of the relatively heavy body andtransferring the connection of' the portion advancingto the operatingmechanisms from a'coil-from which the web' has been nearly used to afull'coil. The mounting is shown as a frame having horizontal side-barsI06 spaced to receive coils of the shell-material between them, andcarrying two transversely alined pairs of rolls 108, I08 and H0, H0.These pairs of rolls are respectively arranged to retain againstdisplacement and to facilitate the rotation of a spindle I I2 projectingfrom a core Ill in a shellcoiljB, newly introduced, and the spindle of alargely unwound coil B. At the outer side of 1 the height of the top ofthe bars I00 above the platform being such that when a full coil ofshell-material rests at its periphery upon the latter, the spindle II2will be somewhat above the bars. That is, the height of the bars is lessthan the radius of the coil. Beneath theframe is a pit or depression H8,the depth of which permits the fullcoil B to turn without contact withthe bottom. Assuming a coil B to be in place on'the rolls I08 and inuse, this continues until there is comparatively little of theshell-material left upon the coil. Then the operator shifts the spindlealong the bars I00 until it rests upon the rolls I I0'in the position B,the drawing-0B of the shell-web continuing without interruption. Thisleaves the'rolls I00 free for the support of a new coil of theshell-web, which is rolled from the platform I it over the pit, thespindle descending on the tops of the bars and traveling along theseuntil it is seated between the rolls I00. The elements are now asillustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. To the free end of the newlypositioned coil may be attached a piece of adhesive-paper 1 having aprojecting portion. As the last convolutions of the coil 13' are beingdrawn off, the operator stops the feed of the web, and, holding theforward portion divides it from the short length remaining at B', and,while the apparatus draws upon excess material which is provided as willbe described, splices this forward portion by the piece to the end ofthe new coil B; seeFig. 1. The operation of the apparatus continueswithout interruptiomand it is only necessary to reject later a singleblank which contains thesplice. The supply of shell-material to be drawnupon during the splicing may be maintained in an accumulator or storagemeans I! interposed be accumulation of thematerial maybe observed by theoperator. The internal width is somewhat greater than that of theshell-web, and it is horizontally elongated, its dimensions being such.that the material may fall in a number of loose,

superposed, oppositely extending loops, as illustrated-inl 'ig. l. Theweb b runs from the coilB vertically, guided at the inner side -.by thewall of the'cage and at the outer side by a wardly. inclined butgenerally horizontal supporting wall 2I0, terminatingnear the center ofthe cage, to gather in loops at the bottom of said cage. The throat 200and the elements which guide the web to it are preferably so situatedabove and between the retaining .means I02 and I II that acoil'positioned by either of said retaining means may deliver properlyto the throat.

The leading end of the web from the lowest loop passes over a guide-roll2I2 at the forward extremity of the cage and a guide-rod 2Il forsupporting it above the bottom of the cage, the rod web ofshell-material preparatory to splicing, and

a variable-speed mechanism for determining the rate at which the web issupplied to the cage.

Side-walls 2I-s, 2I8 position the web transversely 9,020,419 f g i lythe same plane longitudinally of the cage.-

Thero1l224 turns in fixed bearings upon the wall of the cage, and isrotated through spur-gearing 10 220 and sprocket-gearing 200 frombelt-gearing I02 to the mechanism G. Spur-gearing 222 drives the roll220 and theroll 224' at the same peripheral speed. The roll 2201sJournaled in I pivoted arms 234, 234, and is drawn toward the 15companion roll by a spring 230, to grip the web and advance it into thecage. The travel imparted to the web by the feed-rolls, as compared withthat caused .by the operating mechanisms, determines the amount of saidweb. which cum- .2 ulates in the cage. This is made variable, to permitthe operator to create a sufllcient excess upon which to draw during thesplicing of the web,-yet

without overfllling the cage during the normal" operation. I effect thisby introducing a cone- 2 pulley 220 driven by the belt I02 and drivingthe sprocket-gearing 220. A belt-shifter 240, operable by a screw 242,provides for the positioning "of the belt I02 at different points alongthe cone,

thus rotating the rolls 224, 220 at different speeds.

shaft allows the active cooperation of the rolls,

while the remaining cylindrical periphery cams the, arms and roll' 220away from the roll 224. During the delivery of the web to the case theknife 220 will occupy the position appearing in 40 Figs. 1 and 3. When afresh coil of the shell-mm terial is to bejoined to the advancingportion of the old coil, the operator throws off the feed at the rolls224, 220, and, removing the guide-pin 204 to give access to the web,grasps the portion above the. ledger-blade 222, the operating mechanismof the apparatus at this time drawing from the excess-supply in thecage; Then, swinging the blade 222 into co-operation with theledgerblade, he severs the web and connects its forward 6 I portion bythe adhesive-strip 1 to the new coil of shell-material B, as has alreadybeen described. The connection having been accomplished, the roll 226 isrestored to its feeding relation, to again cause the delivery into thecage 200.0f the web 55 which is to be drawn therefrom by the operatingmechanism. It should be noted that. the feeding of the web through theupper throat 200 and its guidance therefrom to the center of the cage bythe wall 2 I I so deliver it that it may fall in long, gradually curvedloops in either direction, without imposing, at any point stresses whichwould be likely to break the often frail, brittle material. Similarly,the withdrawal of the material through the lower slot 2 minimizesdistorting and rupturing strains. All this is accomplished with a simplestructure having few moving elements.

Having described my invention, what I claim 'as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the 7 United States is:

- 1. In combination, a support for a web of material, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a compartment through which the webpasses fromthe support to the operating mechanism, net- 9,050, 19 feeding meanssituated at one extremity of the compartment, and a guide for the webextending from above the feeding means along the top oi. the compartmentand terminating near the center thereof.

2. In combination, a support for a web of material, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a compartment having a throat through which theweb passes from the support to the operating mechanism, means includinga yieldable roll for feeding the web through the throat into thecompartment, and a web-supporting wall extending from the throat to apoint near the center of the compartment.

3. In combination, a support for a web of material, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a compartment through which the web passes fromthe support to the operating mechanism, and in which said web mayaccumulate in a substantial number of loose superposed loops, means forfeeding the web into the compartment in a generally horizontaldirectiomand means arranged to vary the rate at which the feeding meansoperates and thereby change the accumulation or the loops of web in thecompartment.

4. In combination, a support for a web of material, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a cage situated between the support andoperating mechanism, said cage having a receiving opening for the weband a delivering opening for said web, rolls rotatable upon the cagebelow the receiving opening to feed the web through said receivingopening to fall therein in superposed loopsv above the deliveringopening, and means mounted upon the cage and arranged to vary the speedof the rolls and thereby alter the number of loops contained in thecage. 1

5. In combination, a support for a web of material, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a cage situated between the support andoperating mechanism, said cage having in an end wall a receiving openingfor the web and in its bottom va delivering opening for said web, rollsrotatable upon the end wall of the cage'to feed the web through thereceiving opening, and change-speed gearing supported beneath the bottomof the cage and connecting the rolls and the operating mechanism,

6. In combination, a support for a web of material, mechanism foroperating upon the web,--a compartment through which the web passes fromthe support to the operating mechanism, said compartment having a bottomupon which the web rests in loose superposed loops and end wallsarranged for contact with the opposite ends of the loops, there being anopening in one end wall to receive the web and an opening in the bottomthrough which said web is delivered, and means for feedingthe webthrough the receiving opening.

7. In combination, a support for a web of mav terial, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a compartment through which the web passes fromthe support to the operating mechanism, said compartment having a bottomupon which the web rests in loose superposed loops and end wallsarranged for contact with the opposite ends of the loops, there being anopening in one end wall to receive the web and an opening in the bottomthrough which said' web is delivered, and a pair of rotatable rollsmounted upon the end wall of the compartment adjacent to the receivingopening and engaging the web to feed it-through said p in 8. Incombination, a support for a web of material, mechanism for operatingupon the web, a 6

compartment through which the web passes from the support to theoperating mechanism, said compartment having a bottom upon which the webrests in loose superposed loops and end walls arranged for contact withthe opposite ends of 10 the loops; there being an opening in one endwall to receive the web and an opening in the bottom thIOLEh which saidweb is delivered, a roll journaled upon the end wall of the compartmentadjacent to the receiving opening, arms pivoted 16 upon said wall, arotatable roll journaled in the arms, means for rotating the rolls inengagement with the web to feed it through the receiving opening, and aspring urging the rolls into feeding co-operation.

9. Incombination, a support for a web of material, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a compartment through which the web passes fromthe support to the operating mechanism, said compartment having a bottomupon which the 2 web rests in loose superposed loops and end wallsarranged for contact with the opposite ends of the loops, there being anopening in one end wall to receive the web and an opening in' the bottomthrough which said web is delivered, a roll jour- 30 naled upon the endwall oi the compartment ad- Jacent to the receiving opening, armspivoted upon said wall, a rotatable roll journaled in the arms, meansfor rotating the rolls in engagement with the web to feed it through thereceiving opening, a spring urging the rolls intofeeding cooperation,and a can; rotatable upon' the end wall and engaging a roll-arm todetermine the relation between the rolls.

10. In combination, a support for a, web of ma- 4 terial, mechanism foroperating upon the web, a compartment through which the web passes fromthe support to the operating mechanism, 'said compartment having abottom upon which the web rests in loose superposed loops and end wallsarranged for contact with the opposite ends of I the loops, there beingan opening in one endfwall 11. In combination, a support for a web ofmaterial, mechanism for operating upon the web, a v

compartment through which the web passes from the support to theoperating mechanism, said compartment having a bottom upon which the webrests in loose superposed loops and end walls arranged for contact withthe opposite ends of the loops, there being an opening in one end wallto receive the web and an opening in the bottom through which said webis delivered, a pair of rotatable rolls mounted upon the end wall of thecompartment adjacent to the receiving opening 05 and engaging the web tofeed it through said opening, a ledger-blade fixed upon the end wallbelow the rolls, and a blade pivoted upon the wall for co-operation withthe ledger-blade.

CUTLER n. KNOWLTON.

CERTIFICATE OF costar-demon.

Patent Nb. 2,020,419. r

. CUTLER n. KNOVZLTON.

It is hereby certified that ert'o'r appeargin the printed specificationofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,secorid,coiumn, if

line 75, claim 1, for the syllable "net-f read web-; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same'tn'ay conform 'to the record of the .case in the Patent Office.

' Signed andseaied this 14th day of- Ja'nuuary, A. D. $36.;

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioxier of Patents November? 12, was.t

